- To the arena we went, where Rey Mysterio’s music began, and the master of the 619 walked out. No family in sight this week. Mysterio looked stoic, and the announcers talked in hushed tones about what went down last week. Rey said he hasn’t had a moment of peace in the last week. He said he could only see the tears in his daughter’s eyes from last week, and the stress he has felt is all because of CM Punk. He said Punk crossed a line last week that should never be crossed. Mysterio accepted Punk’s Wrestlemania challenge from last week. But he didn’t want it to be a normal match: He wanted a street fight, to teach Punk a lesson about messing with another man’s family. Rey said that’s a lesson he’s going to teach Punk. Then Punk’s music came on and the Straight Edge Society walked out.

Punk said he wanted to keep a safe distance from the emotional Mysterio, so he stood on the stage. Punk said Mysterio proved last week that he was nothing but a coward and Rey interrupted by telling Punk to keep his family out of this. Punk said Rey’s hatred is no way to solve his problems. Rey called Punk “not human” and a monster for doing what he did last week. Mysterio tried to leave the ring to go after him, but Punk warned him that if Rey lays a finger on Punk between now and Wrestlemania, Mysterio forfeits his opportunity for a match against Punk. Punk said he can see the Straight Edge inside Mysterio. Punk said he had pictures of Rey’s daughter’s birthday party to remind him of the occasion. He put one on the TitanTron of Rey on his knees talking to his daughter from last week. Another, this one of Rey’s family looking toward the ramp in fear of the Society. Next was a picture of Rey’s daughter burying her head into Rey’s hip in tears. Punk said at that moment, Dominic realized that he was tougher than his own father. Punk proclaimed that he could save Rey Mysterio, if he proclaimed Punk as his savior. Mysterio wasn’t taking the bait.

Punk said if Rey joined the Society, he could live up to the Superhero myth that the people have built up for Rey. Mysterio said that would never happen. He said Punk would have to live the rest of his life fighting him every day. Mysterio asked for a yes or no about the street fight. Punk conceded he didn’t like either of the options. He said that if Mysterio can beat Luke Gallows tonight, then Mysterio gets his Street Fight at ‘Mania. If he loses, and loses at ‘Mania, he will be forced to join the Straight Edge Society. Punk said that once Rey joins the Society, he can forget that the moment on the TitanTron ever happened. It was another picture of Rey’s daughter, her head in her hands, with Punk leering toward the family. Mysterio said he would never forget that image, and said he’d beat Gallows, like he’s done before. He then said he’d make sure Punk never forgot the beating he’ll get at Wrestlemania. “May God have mercy on your soul,” said Rey. Good segment, but they’re starting to get a bit too stipulation-happy. I’m hoping Gallows wins, since that would be more interesting than a plain ‘ol street fight.

[Commercial Break]

1 – MVP & MATT HARDY vs. JACK SWAGGER & DOLPH ZIGGLER

Matt Striker mentioned their partnership in the past, and Grisham said they were former champions. Come one guys, they were feuding at the time! And it was quite an epic feud, as well. Back and forth action to start, with Ziggler making the first tag of the match. Grisham lauded the hubris of Swagger. Swagger had the advantage with a forearm to the back of Hardy as they went to break, about 1:10 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Hardy was still in there with Swagger out of break. Big slam by Swagger, who then hit the Vader bomb for a near-fall. Both men made tags, and MVP landed an overhead throw on Ziggler. Striker noted he was personally pulling for MVP in the MITB match. Ballin’ elbowdrop, but a distraction by Swagger, allowed Ziggler to get some time to recover. Looked like a timing issue, as Swagger and MVP had a stand-off but neither did anything; Hardy didn’t show much alacrity in attacking Swagger, which he eventually did, to take him out of the match. Anyway, Ziggler surprised MVP with a Zig-Zag for the win.

WINNERS: Ziggler and Swagger, at 5:54. About half of that, if not less, was actually shown.

After the match, Ziggler got a ladder from under the ring, put it in the center of the squared circle, climbed it, and retrieved the briefcase. Cross his name off the list of possible winners for Wrestlemania.

- A video aired of the happenings on Jericho’s Highlight Reel from last week.

- They advertised Jericho on the Cutting Edge tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- The video package on Michaels vs. Undertaker aired, with Johnny Cash playing in the background.

- They showed the Walk of Fame in L.A, including Vince McMahon’s star.

- Teddy Long was in his office on the phone when Drew McIntyre walked in. Long said he was impressed that McIntyre is still “technically” undefeated. He did say that McIntyre only won last week because he fought a nobody. Well, not in those words. Long said McIntyre is undefeated, but that ends tonight. He said he was thinking about streaks….like a 17-0 streak at Wrestlemania. Long said he was trying to contact Vince McMahon, but all he got was voice-mail. So tonight, Mac will take on The Undertaker one-on-one. Long took forever to get to that point in this segment.

[Commercial Break]

2 – MICHELLE MCCOOL & LAYLA vs. BETH PHOENIX & TIFFANY

Layla and Michelle McCool wore shirts that read, “Glama-Man.” Beth used her power off the bat, and gave Layla an Airplane spin. “Somebody call Mike Rotundo!” shouted Striker. Tiffany tagged in and immediately registered a near-fall. Suplex by Tiffany for only one, though. Some solid forearms thrown, but Layla put Tiffany on the apron and kicked her. Tiffany got choked on the top rope by McCool, causing her to fall to ringside. Layla whipped Tiffany into McCool, who clotheslined her opponent. McCool tossed Tiffany around like a proverbial rag-doll. Michelle missed a leg-drop and Tiffany made the tag. Back-body drop by Beth, who took the fight to McCool. Standing slingshot suplex (“shades of Tully Blanchard!” – Striker), but Layla interrupted things. Faith-Breaker by McCool was countered. Glam Slam by Phoenix and that’s all she wrote.

Vickie Guerrero came out and told Tiffany to leave, as Beth Phoenix owes her an apology. Beth said she apologized last week, but Vickie said that wasn’t good enough. “I was wrong to put my hands on a WWE authority figure, and for that, I apologize,” said Phoenix. Still not good enough, replied Vickie (with an “excuse me” thrown in there). She said she’d make Beth regret putting her hands on her. Guerrero said she is Beth’s superior in more ways than Beth can think of. Vickie then put herself in a match against Beth for next week.

- Another plug aired for Jericho on the Cutting Edge tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker thanked Kevin Rudolf for the use of his song, “I Made It,” as one of Wrestlemania’s themes. Then they showed Rudolf sitting in the front row. That...is not how I pictured him. He didn't look particularly thrilled to be there.

- Edge came out for the Cutting Edge. During his entrance, they showed what happened on the Highlight Reel seven days ago. He didn’t waste much time in introducing Chris Jericho. Jericho was accompanied by his NXT Rookie, Wade Barrett. I can see Barrett playing a vampire, for some reason. Edge remarked that it looked like Jericho and Barrett were ready to go to the prom together. He said he and Jericho are like two expert chess players. Jericho had a look of pure evil on his face during Edge’s diatribe. Edge said his last move would be made at Wrestlemania, and he thinks Jericho knows what that move will be. Jericho said it would be a mistake for Edge to boil down their match at ‘Mania to just one move, as there are many factors going into it. Among other things, Jericho questioned as to whether Edge was 100%. He said Edge tore his Achilles by taking just one step…and what would happen if he deliberately tore Edge’s Achilles again? Edge’s career would be over, that’s what. Edge said there’s a good chance that he may still be injured, but there’s only one way to find out: He dared Jericho to make a move and checkmate him. Instead, Edge went after Jericho. Barrett got involved, allowing Jericho to clip Edge from behind. Edge fought back against both men. He threw Jericho out of the ring and speared Barrett. But then Jericho came in and took Edge down with a Codebreaker. He then worked over the Achilles tendon of Edge. Jericho closed things out by raising the World Title over his head, as a fallen Edge writhed in pain on the mat. Solid segment, and they kept it relatively short, since they basically did the same thing last week.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed the exterior of Universal Studios in LA.

- Highlights of what just happened in the previous segment aired.

- Tonight, Drew McIntyre vs. Undertaker.

3 – THE HART DYNASTY vs. JOHN MORRISON & R-TRUTH

Grisham reminded us that the Harts lost the Triple-Threat tag match to find out who would face Big Show and Miz at Wrestlemania. Big bell-to-belly suplex by David Hart Smith, who tagged out to his teammate Tyson Kidd. Morrison backed out of a suplex and R-Truth made the blind tag. He hit the ropes and nailed Kidd with the Lie Detector for the quick win.

WINNERS: Truth and Morrison, at 1:40. Sad that this is what the Dynasty is relegated to, but it was a good, convincing win for the challengers to the titles at ‘Mania.

- Time for “Word Up” with Cryme Tyme. The word of the day: “Show Down.” Something about a text message challenge to score points. Oh, JTG noted it was the Slim Jim Show Down for ‘Mania after Shad gave the literal definition. Both men proceeded to snap into a Slim Jim, as it were. JTG gave the text code to win prizes.

- Rey Mysterio faces Luke Gallows, with a lot at stake. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

4 – REY MYSTERIO vs. LUKE GALLOWS

Gallows had some weird, Big Daddy V-like music in coming to the ring with the Society. Mysterio going with the yellow and purple of the L.A. Lakers to garner some subliminal cheap heat. Mysterio set Gallows up for the 619 early in the match, but Gallows turned it into a tilt-a-whirl back-breaker. He then threw Mysterio out of the ring under the bottom rope and wheel-barrowed Rey into the barricade. Mysterio got back in the ring at nine, which fired up Punk on the outside. They went to break about 2:20 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Gallows had Mysterio locked in a bear-hug out of break. Luke tried to suplex Rey off the top rope, but Mysterio knocked him off. Seated senton of the top from Rey, then a springboard cross-body for a near-fall. Gallows returned fire with a splash onto the back of Mysterio. Bulldog by Rey, who then went to the apron. Springboard leg-drop for only two. Gallows in position for the 619. It connected. Punk tried to sneak into the ring, and Serena tripped Mysterio up as the ref was distracted by Punk. Mysterio fell off the top rope and Gallows capitalized with a pin and the win.

WINNER: Gallows, at 8:55. Another good match between these two.

Mysterio attacked Gallows after the match, while Punk coldly watched, sitting on the apron. Once Mysterio walked a good distance away from Gallows, who by this time was behind the announce table, punk walked over to Gallows as if he was going to help him up. Then Mysterio jumped back over and onto Gallows. Punk stood only a few feet away, looking on. He went down to his knees to help Gallows as Rey just watched. This means if Mysterio loses at Wrestlemania, he must join Punk and his Straight Edge Society.

McIntyre tried to stay away from Taker at the start, but the fight quickly went to the outside. McIntyre came back on the offensive, but only briefly. Taker used some soup-bones to punish McIntyre in the corner. He threw Mac clear over the top rope and to ringside. He hit his patented legdrop with McIntyre draped under the bottom rope. Chokeslam, and it found its mark. He signaled for the Tombstone and surprisingly, no distraction from HBK. The move hit and the match was over.

WINNER: Undertaker, at 2:15. Well, it WAS Undertaker, but the I.C. Champion didn’t put up much of a fight. Not sure what the constant losing means for McIntyre – I’d guess a win at ‘Mania, but I’m not so sure now.

As Taker did his pose on the ramp, Shawn Michaels came out and went for a superkick, but Taker dodged it. They wrestled for control until Michaels finally hit it. He jawed at the fallen Taker, then did the Dead Man’s raised fist pose on the ramp.

Greg Parks has been covering Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)

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